Sculling apparatus



May 26, 1953 e. RAUGLAS SCULLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 10, 1951 INVENTOR.

y 1953 G. RAUGLAS 2,639,684

SCULLING APPARATUS;

Filed Jan. 10, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 37 INVENTOR.

Patented May 26, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- SCULLING APPARATUS Gerard Rauglas, Minneola, Fla. Application January 10, 1951, Serial No. 205,387

My invention relates to sculling apparatus and is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 61,606, filed November 23, 1948.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved sculling apparatus provided with an automatic reverse.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved sculling apparatus which feathers automatically for tacking and quick maneuvering'.

A further object is to provide an improved sculling apparatus which will insure easy onehand operation;

A further object is to provide an improved sculling apparatus having the easy one-hand operation which gives full freedom for immediate use of tackle, camera, or gun.

A further object is to provide an improved sculling apparatus which can be tilted and retained out of water when an outboard motor is in use.

A further object is .to provide an improved sculling apparatus which will be light and durable.

A further object is to provide a sculling apparatus in which the apparatus may be changed from its forward drive condition to its reverse drive condition by a one-hand operation of the hand which is operating the paddle without removing the hand from its paddling position.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved sculling apparatus by means of which the direction in which the boat is pointing may be changed without substantial movement of the boat forward or backward by a one-hand operation of the hand which is operating the paddle without removing the hand from its paddling position.

Fig. 3 is a section the line 33 of Fig. 2,

Claims. (01. 115-30) 2 showing the means for determining the range of oscillation of the paddle shaft;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing part of the transmission between the hand-operated plunger and the reciprocable paddle shaft;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the bearing bracket on which the paddle shaft bearing is rockably mounted and swiveled;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan View showing different positions successively assumed by the paddle in its oscillating movement when the apparatus is set for forward drive and the paddle shaft is moved from left to right;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view showing different positions successively assumed by the paddle in its oscillating movement when the apparatus is set for forward drive and the paddle shaft is moved from right to left;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic plan View showin different positions successively assumed by the paddle in its oscillating movement when the. apparatus is set for rearward drive and the paddle shaft is moved from left to right;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammmatic plan view showing different positions successively assumed by the paddle in its oscillating movement when the apparatus is set for rearward drive and the paddle shaft is moved from right to left; i

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing in transverse cross section positions successively assumed by the blade when set for forward drive for turning the boat counterclockwise when viewed in plan without substantial fore-and-aft movement when the blade is set for forward drive;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing in transverse cross section positions successively assumed by the blade when set for rearward drive for turning the boat counterclockwise when viewed in plan without substantial fore-and-aft movement when the blade is set for rearward drive, and

Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view showin a detail of the oscillation limiting sleeve and part of the paddle shaft.

The construction shown inthe drawing comprises a sculling apparatus including an oscillatable paddle l, a shaft 2 for said paddle oscillatable therewith, and means for mountingsaid shaft and paddle for oscillation on a boat and controlling its movement comprising a bearing member 2 -osci1latab1e back and forth about an upwardly extending axis 2 means'for mounting said shaft in said bearing member for rotative adjustment about the axis of said shaft and securing it in different adjusted positions and enabling oscillation of said shaft about its axis by reaction of the water on the paddle, means 2 for limiting the oscillating movement of the shaft in different positions of rotative adjustment of the shaft, the virtual center 3 of reactive force of the water on the paddle being offset forwardly with respect to the axis of the shaft 2 in one position of rotative adjustment of the shaft and being'offset rearw'ardly of said axis in another position of rotative adjustment of the shaft to enable the reaction of the water on the paddle to cause oscillation of =the shaft, said mounting means including a yoke 4, oscillatable in a bearing sleeve bracket 4 ""about the axis 2 in which yoke the bearing member 2 is rockably mounted on the pivot pin i enabling the bearing member 2 to be oscillated-about" a substantially horizontal axis transverse to the axis-of-the shaft"? to enable the paddled to be raised and lowered with respect to the-water, said movement controlling means comprising a rock arm 5 secured to said bearing member 22 for oscillating'it about said upwardly extending axis for controlling movement of theboat and oscillating it about said transverse axis to enable the paddle to-be raised and lowered with respect to the water, force-transmitting plunger means 6,='manually operableby the thumb of the hand on' the paddle handle'fi coaxial with said arm 5 and =reciprocable longitudinally thereof, forcetransmitting plunger means i coaxial with said shaft 2 and reciprocable longitudinally thereof an'd'actuated by saidfi'rst plunger means .3, spring means 8 urging the paddle to lowered position, andlatch means 9 for holding the paddle in raised position above the water, said oscillation limiting means 2 comprising a sleeve 9 surrounding said shaft 2 and having a pair of notches Ill in an arcuate edge thereof, and a pin II oscillatable with said shaft 2 abuttable with the edges I2 of said notch 50 in its oscillation.

Release of blade for feathering so shapedthat thecurved rod does not come'into contactwith thecurved tubular arm 5-in its movement;

The up p er end of the paddle shaft 2 includes a reinforcing sleevefl t-surrounding it and a push rod i extending into an axial bore in thepaddle shaft The sleeve I 4 and rod 2 are secured'to thupper end-of the paddle shaft Z'by means of a rivet I5. The rod 2 is recip'rocably mounted the-bearing'sleeve Z by 'means of short guide and bearing sleeves 9 and I6 through which the -1'od2 extends, which sleevesare secured-to the bearing-sleeve Z in'any suitable manner, as by brazing orwelding. A spring I1 is provided acting' between the bearing sleeve I6and a washer I8 secured to the upper end of the'rod'2 'by meansof a nut I9.

The rod 2 on the paddle shaft 2 may be :75

pressed downwardly from the plunger 1 by means of a push bar 20 reciprooably mounted in the bearing sleeve 2 This push bar 20 is controlled in its reciprocating movement in the bearing sleeve by means of a screw 2| extending through the bearing sleeve 2* and through a slot 22 in the push bar and threaded into one side of the bearing sleeve. This adjustable screw 2| also serves to limit the lowermost position of the paddle in the water by engagement with a subbracket 23 on the bearing'bracket 4 The push bar 20 is further guided in its movement by its position with respect to the pivot pin i When the oarsman presses down on the plunger or push button 6, he will cause the paddle shaft 2 to be moved downwardly a corresponding amount to free the pin II from the notches IO. When thus freed, the operator can cause the paddle to assume any desired position of rotative adjustment in the bearing sleeve 2 by utilizing the reaction of the water on the blade.

The plunger or push'button 5 is mounted for free sliding movement in the handle 6 The plunger i is mounted for free sliding movement in'the'lower end of the rock arm 5. The bearing member 2 is reinforced at its upperend by a sleeve 25 fitting inside the bearing member! and fixedly secured thereto.- The lower end of the rock arm 5 fits snugly inside the upper vend of this sleeveitand is firmly secured thereto.

When the oarsman presses on the push button s the plunger I moves downwardly, engaging the push bar 20 and pushing it downwardly. The downward movement of the push bar Ell causes downward movement of the push rod 2 against the resisting action of the spring I'I. As'the push rod 2 forms part of the shaft 2, the shaft 2 is moved downwardlymeleasingthe pin I I from engagement in the notches It. In this position of the parts the paddle or blade I can feather freely-under the reaction of 'the' water-against the virtual center of the paddle.

Oscillating, lifting and lowering paddle The bracket 4 shown in detail in Figs. 1 and 5 comprises a bracket yoke 25 which straddles the transom 26 of the boat, and the yoke is'clainped on the transom by means of clam-pingscrews 21. The'braoket is provided with a-bearing sleeve 28 in which the journal 28 of the yoke 4 is swiveled. For latching the paddle in raised position, the latch 9 'is 'slippedover a hook'on the bracket 4 Forward propulsion For forward propulsion, the blade l is set to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, which is the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The rock arm '5 is then oscillated back and forth through a range of perhaps degrees, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Referring, first; to Fig. 6, which shows the clockwise stroke from left-to right, theblade 2 is shown in plan viewin five successive positions, the motion of the shaft 2 being-clockwise as indicated by the arrow A. The lines 29 extending perpendicularly from the virtual-contort -of the blade show the plan view of lines of equal length, indicating the reaction of the water on the blades in the different positions. The parallel foreand-aftextending lines 30 indicate the forwardly propulsive components of this'reactive forcein the different blade positions. The parallel transverselines 3i indicate-'- the lateral components of these reactive forces, which would: actzto turn the boat counterclockwise. It will be noted:that

the" forward-component =30 of the: reactive force pulsion. The operator then lifts his is at its maximum in the left-hand lower position and fades out to practically zero in the righthand blade position. There is much more forward propulsive effect in the left-hand positions of the blades than in the right-hand positions. In all positions, except possibly the extreme righthand one, there will be a forward propulsive effect and a variable force tending to cause the boat to veer to the right during this stroke.

In Fig. 7, which shows consecutive positions assumed by the blade when set for forward propulsion and moved counterclockwise, as indicated by the arrow B, the lines 32 leading from the virtual center 3 of the blade correspond to the lines 29 extending from the virtual center of the blade in Fig. 6. During the counterclockwise stroke, as viewed in Fig. '7, the forward propulsive reactive force indicated by the lines 33 are at their maximum in the right-hand position and diminish almost to zero in the extreme lefthand position. The horizontal parallel lines 34, indicating the lateral components of the reactive water forces acting, are at their minimum in the right-hand position of the blade and increase to a maximum in the left-hand blade position. The vertical parallel components 33 indicate forward propulsive forces, and the horizontal dotted lines 34 indicate transverse reacting components. In the blade positions shown in Fig. 7, it will be seen that a strong propulsive effect is exerted during the first half of the stroke and a much less propulsive effect during the latter half of the stroke. In this counterclockwise stroke, the first half of the stroke'will cause a forward propulsion of the boat with a veering movement to the right, and the latter half of the stroke will cause a lessened propulsion effect with a more pronounced reaction tending to cause the boat to veer to the right.

Forward or rearward to starboard or port If the oarsman should desire in general a continuous veering to the right, he would oscillate the oar back and forth between the extreme lefthand position and the central position, in which operation the sum of the right-hand veering components would exceed the sum of the lefthand veering components. Similarly, if he wished to continue to veer to the left, he would the blade between the central position and the extreme right-hand position. In this operation, the sum of the left-hand veering components would exceed the sum of the right-hand veering components and hence the boat would veer to the left.

Feather shift between forward and rearwiard propulsion The blade I may be caused to move from the position for forward propulsion shown in full lines in Fig. l to the position for rearward propulsion shown in dotted lines by a one-hand operation of the handle 6 and push button '6. If the paddle is set in the full-line position shown in Fig. 1, which is the forward propulsion position, and it is desired to shift it to the dottedline position for rearward propulsion, the paddle is allowed to assume its lowered position under the action of the spring 8, the button 6 is depressed to release the blade I for feathering motion, and the handle 3 is rapidly depressed, causing the blade I to rise rapidly. The reaction of the water on the blade will shift the blade from the full-line position for forward propulsion to the dotted-line position for reverse prothumb from oscillate the push button 6, allowing the spring H to act to move the pin H into the notches l0, where the oscillation of the pin will be limited by the shoulders l2. Similarly, for shifting the blade from the dotted-line position for rearward propulsion to the full-line position for forward propulsion, the oarsman will depress the handle 6*, press with his thumb on the push button 6 to release the blade I for feathering action, and lift up on the handle quickly, causing the blade I to move downward quickly. This rapid downward movement of the blade from raised to lowered position will cause the reaction of the water on the blade to flip it quickly from its lowermost position for rearward propulsion to its uppermost position for forward propulsion.

Rearward propulsion For rearward propulsion, the blade I is 'set to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, which is the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The rock arm is then oscillated back and forth through a range of perhaps 90 degrees, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Referring first to Fig. 8, which shows the clockwise stroke from left to right, five successive positions of the blade are shown. The blade 2 is shown in plan View in five successive positions, the motion of the shaft 2 being clockwise as indicated by the arrow A. The lines 29 extending perpendicularly from the virtual center 3 of the blade show the plan view of lines of equal length, indicating the reaction of the water on the blades in the different positions. The parallel fore-and-aft extending lines 30 indicate the forwardly propulsive components of this reactive force in the different blade positions. The parallel transverse lines 3| indicate the lateral components of these reactive forces, which would act to turn the boat counterclockwise. It will be noted that the rearward component 30 of the reactive force is at its maximum in the righthand lower position and fades out to practically zero in the left-hand blade position. There is much more rearward propulsive effect in the right-hand positions of the blades than in the left-hand positions. In all positions, except possibly the extreme left-hand one, there will be a rearward propulsive efiect and a variable force tending to cause the boat to veer to the left during this stroke.

In Fig. 9, which shows consecutive positions assumed by the blade when set for forward propulsion and moved counterclockwise, as indicated by the arrow B, the lines 32 leading from the virtual center 3 of the blade correspond to the lines 29 extending from the virtual center of the blade in Fig. 8. During the counterclockwise 'stroke, as viewed in Fig. 9, the rearward propulsive reactive force indicated by the lines 33 are at their maximum in the left-hand position and diminish almost to zero in theextreme righthand position. The horizontal parallel lines 34, indicating the lateral components of the reactive water forces acting, are at their minimum in the left-hand position of the blade and increase to a maximum in the right-hand blade position. The vertical parallel components 33 indicate rearward propulsive forces and the horizontal dotted lines 34 indicate transverse reacting components. In

the blade positions shown in Fig. 9, it will be seen that a strong propulsive effect is exerted during the first half of the stroke and a much less propulsive effect during the latter half of the stroke. In this counterclockwise stroke, the first half of the stroke will cause a rearward propulsion of the boat with a veering movement to the left, and

hand. veering components.

1 tive'ito cause. cloelcwfieitti c -the l latte halfgiofr-the strolge will cause a lessened mnopmsiomeff ct with amaz ron u cedvr a :tion tending.to cause the boa-t to vee pto the lett.

If the oarsman shouldflesiredn gener alia continuous veering t ,-.-the right, :he 'WQU QJQSQiIJate the oar ba-ck andiforth betweenythe e gtne lne right+hand-position and the; central, -position, in whichoperation the :sum of;theright h-and eering components would exceed the sum of theleftimil rly, if, h Wished to continue-:toveer to the left; he would oscillate the blade :between the --central -position andrthe extreme l -h ndm itio i u-$1 550 eration, the'sum oif the =left hand;veering components would exceed the of the igight hand veering components and he rce/ the boat would veer to the left,

Turning .Forturningztheboatabout a vertical axiswithout any substantial sforwar'd or rearwardmove- :entofitheboat and with the bladeseteto the-full line position. showninrFig. l the-various;positions :assumed by the blade 'inl 'three oscillations back andifortn aite indicated"diagrammatically inE-ig.

; The axis about which theib'la-de oscillates is indicated-at CD :iniEig. l and at irinllii'gs. 510i and 1 1. This Would 'cor-respond to the positionoffthe center line ofthebla'deishaft l. Themeanszfor limiting 'the 'clockwise oscillation of r the blade are indicated diagrammatically a't -36, this corresponding-to one oftheshoulders 12. As therblarie is rn-ovedirom positionE to position E; ithe angu- "lar position of the stop 36 with respect 'to the 'lolade-axis "35 'changes, shifting in a counterclockwise direction} The reaction ofth'e water-on the virtual center 3 6i the blade indicatediby Jline: 36

'will oausefthe bla'de to Jean 11;): against the stop shoulder 36-. The turriingmomponent-of the re- -action of' the Water on the 'blade is ind-ioa'ti-zd as; 'in Figs.'69 -bythe hoiizontal lines 31-. This oomponent will tend to "turn the-boat ina counterclockwise direction asviewed-trom above. In the reverse oscillation of the bIade fr'om-ithe position Shown at G- 'to the; position shown at'H, the

'a-l-most horizontal position, being prevented .ifrom moving-past thedeadscenter by -theureactive eiiect of thewateron the frontor leading-edge 38roi'the blade. With the position :of the. blade shown during this left-hand stroke, there Will be. little tendency to turn-*the bo'at about a'vertioal'axis. When the paddle has-been moved tocpositionlH, the oarsman releases the push button tigenabling the oscillation Limiting i shoulders. 12- to-again be-c come efieoti-ve. iln'e posit'ions'shownat I and J are duplicates :otitheipositions shown at Eland F, the effect of 'Which will be to cause the boat to turn about its vertical axis ina counterclockwise 1 direction. Thus theright-hand strokeswi11cause l:

a counterclockwise movement of *the heat with very slit l'e fonwardpropulsive :efiect, :andythe letthandstrokes of the ipaddle will have little if any turningeffect ion-the boat. For: clockwise turning, the push button 6 risiheld depressed-during the left to rightlmovement of'the blade 1 to-enable the blade toifeather withoutgan y 2turning efieot, and

lisireleased during the blade mfiwil ell-i rornsright toecome sitesi seamen,

toleftto'enablethashoulder v outgany substantiab for-ward dotted line position shown:

'etaet e l ett e- F1 r -me hane? ebeutaz er iqel xi w t eea weiti oveblade set to the I I I ig. 1, the vaiious positions assumed; bythejhlade -in, three oscillatipns baok and forth: are indicateddiagrammatime it: f: he ea sli C l .iii-Fig. 11. The aX'lS: about Which'the bla de oscillates is'indioated at CDI-in FIig. 1- and. at35 in 1?igs 10 andll; 'Th-islwouldmorrespond tothe l position of. the l center linev 6fthe. blade: haft "2 The [means-[foi limiting the clockwise oscillation of the blade. are indicated diagrammatically at 36, this corresponding.: to onenoffthe shoulders l2.

.As the blade isfmove'dl-from vposition E to position the angular position ofthestopflfi vvith'respeet toltheblade a is 'EBEchahges, shifting in alcounterclockwise, direction. The reaction. of the Water h wen a hentere f $i ill-" il h b ade, lean; up a s he s lim T ih ur in po ent dffthe r'e otion or the water on thelbladeisjindicate'dlas ini'ft ligs 6-19 by the horizontaljlines '31. This 'component'will' tend. to turn'thefboat in a counterclockwise, direction as viewed from-above. In the reverse'oscillation of v the .blade from"thev-positionfshown at G to the position; shown at "the fpil l llger or.push l iutton 1 6 pressed to release the paddle shaft 2 frolnfits limiting meehsj(the'should rs l 2 to enable "the f blade? to oscillate to "featheringjpo'sition underthe iteactionof the water asjth'e b'laf'cle ismoved from right to,'leftfrom positionGjto position fHl "During this-movement "from right to left, "the blade 1 a sume. an a most hbi IiW, P ition. ein prevented from moving "past the dead center by the reactive eff ec t'of the,Wateronthe front edge '33 of the blade. 'liiiiththe p osition ofthe blade shown during thisleft hanq 'st fokeythere vvillbe little tendency to turn the boat about a vertical axis. When thepaddle'has beeninovedto position H, the oarsman releases the push button '6, enabling theyoscillation limiting shoulders 12 to again become effective. The positions shown at I. nd, J a e pl tes oi he to t on hown a and F, the ei feotoi whichjwillfibe, to cause the b t n-( bo t 'v' r i i axis in'a c unte clockwise direction. Thus the ight-lend strokes will cause a counterclockwise, movement of the bpatwfih r iittl rwa d c pi i' ffta the left-hand strokes olf'thegpajd dle win have little if any'turning efifecltonthe boat, For clockwise turning, the. push bu tlt'gn fiis helddepressed during the left tot right nioveznentfof the filad'e l to enable the blade tofeath r vvithoutany turning effect, and isji eleas ed during'th'e blade movement from right to left to ename the shoulders T2 to become efiective to cause clockwise turning of'the boat.

Details e v te p l tc 91s ou ted on a ine "3 sur ound n th pp r en o th e n memb r Th one ise e r d o t 'baring inember. loyn eans 'of a a threaded shank 4!) having 7 .U e a men -W- h... heea m m r 2% and thereiniorcing sleeve 41. Asuitahle operating handle is prov-ided for the threaded sha herzqi i of i: "Mken ag'es the roe}; ar-in if: to hold it imposition. lower end of the rock a m Sis ni ovided with a paifof oppositely disoosed notches which straddle the pivot .pin 4* to hold the rock met against relative rotation with respect 'tofthe bearin g memb r? no Ini 1 4, we a t e awin s are su f c lla ZeFieQ .le lie it- 2 2? new-ins i w et-s The drawings in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 are drawn on a scale of approximately 1 to 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A sculling apparatus comprising an oscillatable shaft, a paddle affixed to one end thereof, and means for oscillatably mounting said shaft on a boat to control movement of the latter, said means comprising an elongated bearing member mountable on said boat for oscillation about an axis angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of saidmember, first shaft-supporting means mounted within said member coaxial to the longitudinal axis thereof for enabling independent oscillation of said shaft relative to said bearing member upon eactio'n of the water on the surface of the paddle, second means associated with said first means for limiting said shaft to selected sectors of oscillation relative to said bearing member, and third manually adjustable means mounted on said bearing member and operatively connected to said shaft for releasing the latter from the oscillatory limitations effected by said second means.

2. A sculling apparatus comprising an oscillatable shaft, a paddle affixed to one end thereof and having the virtual center of reactive force of the water on the paddle offset laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, and means for oscillatably mounting said shaft on a boat to control movement of the latter, said means comprising an elongated bearing member mountableo'n said boat for oscillation about an axis angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said member, first shaft-supporting means mounted within said member coaxial to the longitudinal axis thereof, for enabling independent oscillation of said shaft relative to said bearing member upon reaction of the water on the surface of the paddle, second means associated with said first means for limiting said shaft to selected sectors of oscillation relative to said bearing member, and third manually adjustable means mounted on said bearing member and operatively connected to said shaft for releasing the latter from the oscillatory limitations effected by said second means.

3. A s-culling apparatus comprising an oscillatable shaft, a paddle affixed to one end thereof, and means for oscillatably mountin said shaft on a boat to control movement of the latter, said means comprising an elongated bearing member detachably mounted on said boat for oscillation about an axis angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said member, first shaftsupporting means rigidly mounted within said member for enabling said shaft to assume various selected positions of rotative adjustment with respect to said member and to enable independent oscillation of said shaft when in said selected positions of rotative adjustment upon reaction of the water on the surface of the paddle, second means associated with said first means for limiting the amplitude ofthe independent shaft oscillations when said shaft, is in one of said selected positions of rotative adjustment, and third means mounted on said bearing member and operatively connected to said shaft for effecting movement of the latter into and out of said various selected positions of rotative adjustment.

i. A sculling apparatus comprising an oscillatable shaft, a paddle affixed to one end thereof, and meansfor oscillatably mounting said shaft on a boat to control movement of the latter, said means comprising an elongated bearing member detachably mounted on said boat for oscillation about an axis angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said member, first shaftsupporting means mounted within said member for enabling independent oscillation of said shaft relative to and about the longitudinal axis of said bearing member upon reaction of the water on the surface of the paddle, second means mounted on said bearing member and operatively connected to said shaft for effecting movement of the shaft'into and out of various selected positions of rotative adjustment relative to and about the longitudinalaxis of said bearing member, the virtual center of reactive force of the water on the surface of the paddle being offset laterally in one direction relative to the longitudinal axis of said bearing member, when said shaft is in one selected position of rotative adjustment, to effect forward movement of said boat and being offset laterally in a second direction relative to the longitudinal axis of said bearing member, when said shaft is in a second position of rotative adjustment, to effect rearward movement of said boat, and third means associated with said first means for limiting the amplitude of the independent shaft oscillations when said shaft is in one of said selected positions of rotative adjustment.

5. A sc-ulling apparatus comprising an oscillatable shaft, a paddle affixed to the end thereof and havin the virtual center of reactive force of the water on the paddle offset laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, and means for oscillatably mounting said shafton a boat to control movement of the latter, said means comprising an elongated bearing member mountable on said boat for oscillation about an axis angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said member, an elongated bearing member-actuating handle mounted on and extending angularly from said bearing member, first shaft-supporting means rigidly mount! ed on said bearing member for enabling independent oscillation of said shaft relative to and about the longitudinal axis of said bearing member upon reaction of the water on the surface of the paddle, second means mounted on said handle and operatively connected to said shaft for effecting movement of the latter into and out of various selected positions of rotative adjustment relative to said bearing member, and third means associated with said first means for limiting the amplitude of the independentshaft oscillations when said shaft isin one. of said selected positions of rotative adjustment.

6. A scullingapparatus comprising anoscillatable shaft, a paddle. affixed, to the end thereof and having the virtual center of reactive force of the water on the paddle offset laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, and means for oscillatably mounting said shaft on a boat to control movement of the latter, said means comprising anelon gatedbearing member mountable on said boat for oscillation about substantially vertical and horizontal axes, the lon-. gitudinal axis of said bearing member being angularly disposed with respect to said oscillating axes, an elongated bearing member-actuating handle mounted on and extending angularly from said bearing member, first shaft-supporting means mounted on said bearing member for en abling independent oscillation of said shaft rela-' tive to and about the longitudinal axis of said bearingmember' upon reaction of the water on the surface of the paddle, second finger-actuated 

